Written Answers Friday 22 January 2010

Scottish Executive

Allotments

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a person who is removed from a local authority allotment waiting list as a result of changes to the local authority-made rules or devices regulating the list is entitled to be reinstated in cases where those changes have not been confirmed by the Scottish Ministers in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892.

John Swinney: Regulations made to manage allotments in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 should be formally confirmed by Scottish Ministers. Regulations, made under this provision have no legal effect without ministerial confirmation. It would be for the local authority to resolve any management issues that arose.

Apprenticeships

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on (a) age restrictions for and (b) funding of modern apprenticeships in tourism.

Keith Brown: Through Skills Development Scotland, all young people aged 16 to 19 across all sectors, including tourism, who wish to undertake a modern apprenticeship are eligible for full public funding.

  In addition, funding for those aged 20+ has been made available in 2009-10 for the hospitality, professional cookery and management framework. As an example, the hospitality and tourism sector identified projected demand for skills for chefs and managers, as a result 200 all-age apprenticeships in professional cookery and double the number of apprenticeships in hospitality supervision have been made available in 2009-10. Please see in the following table information on funding rates for modern apprenticeships (MA) in tourism or related MAs.

  MA Funding for 16 to 19-Year-Olds

  

MA Framework
Funding Contribution


Level 2 MA
Level 3 MA


Hospitality Supervision
3,050
6,500


Professional Cookery
3,050
6,500


Cultural Heritage
3,050
6,000


Travel and Tourism
3,050
6,000



  MA Funding for 20+

  

MA Framework
Funding Contribution


Level 2 MA
Level 3 MA


Hospitality Supervision
 
3,000


Professional Cookery
1,550
3,000


Management
 
2,500

Central Heating

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) applications, (b) householders assessed for eligibility and (c) acceptances there have been for Stage Four measures of the Energy Assistance Package in each month, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: Callers to the Energy Assistance Package helpline do not make an application for Stage Four measures as such. Their local energy advisor takes them through an assessment of their potential eligibility for Stages Three and Four, while also offering energy saving advice at Stage One and opportunities to maximise their income and reduce their energy costs at Stage Two.

  It is not possible to identify the number of applications for Stage Four measures, because the application made is to the Energy Assistance Package, rather than to a particular Stage. However, a breakdown of enquiries to the EAP is given in the first table, at (a).Those households that the energy advisor considers potentially eligible for Stage Four are referred to the managing agent for a survey. The survey comprises both an eligibility check of the household and an energy performance assessment of the dwelling. A relatively small number of households are excluded without a survey being undertaken because the managing agent cannot contact them, or they withdraw. The first table shows the households referred to Stage Four and those who cancelled with a survey being undertaken, at (b) and (c).The second table shows the households where the survey is not yet complete and where the eligibility survey has been completed, at (d) and (e). The number of households where the survey is incomplete are slightly higher than usual, due to the holidays which followed closely on the coming into effect on 21 December 2009 of the amended regulations which extended eligibility to dwellings with Band E energy performance. The third table shows the status of the households that have been surveyed, with those accepted for Stage Four measures, those that are not eligible, and those who cancelled after the survey, at (f), (g), and (h).The analyses are provided for the year to date, broken down by local authority area. This information is not normally analysed by local authority area and considerable additional analysis would be required to provide monthly figures going back to April. Therefore, the figures provided are for the year total, from April to end of December. The figures exclude the 5,500 households who had applied under the Central Heating Programme who did not undergo the same eligibility survey.

  1. Enquiries and Referrals to Stage Four

  

Local authority
(a) Enquiries to the Energy Assistance Package
(b) Households Referred for Stage Four Measures
(c) Cancelled before Stage Four Eligibility Survey*


Year to End December


Aberdeen City 
903
170
17


Aberdeenshire 
1,380
310
30


Angus 
1,185
179
16


Argyll and Bute 
687
187
22


Clackmannanshire 
307
47
4


Dumfries and Galloway
1,246
400
52


Dundee City 
1,149
229
22


East Ayrshire 
930
123
13


East Dunbartonshire 
790
135
18


East Lothian 
532
105
8


East Renfrewshire
816
109
6


Edinburgh, City of 
2,809
421
60


Eilean Siar 
533
127
16


Falkirk 
1,170
148
9


Fife 
3,072
497
46


Glasgow City 
2,868
493
38


Highland 
2,199
438
51


Inverclyde 
752
118
16


Midlothian 
454
79
9


Moray 
634
163
15


North Ayrshire 
1,429
228
14


North Lanarkshire
1,776
324
25


Orkney Islands 
219
69
12


Perth and Kinross
1,166
255
21


Renfrewshire 
985
166
18


Scottish Borders
730
181
18


Shetland Islands
61
21
3


South Ayrshire 
1,043
202
24


South Lanarkshire
2,086
371
37


Stirling 
872
125
17


West Dunbartonshire
483
82
7


West Lothian 
856
103
9


No value **
34
172
-


All Scotland 
36,156
6,777
673



  Notes:*Of these, 41% cannot be contacted, 15% cancelled on contact, 44% cancelled before survey.**The address verification process requires a valid post code in order to assign the address to a local authority. Occasionally with new builds the post code is not available with the Ordnance Survey data used by the database and therefore cannot be assigned to a local authority via the verification process. The post code data in the database is updated regularly and as it is updated the properties are assigned to the relevant local authority area.

  2. Eligibility Surveys

  

Local Authority
(d) Stage Four Eligibility Surveys not Yet Complete*
(e) Stage Four Eligibility Surveys Undertaken


Year to End December


Aberdeen City 
55
98


Aberdeenshire 
95
185


Angus 
56
107


Argyll and Bute 
43
122


Clackmannanshire 
7
36


Dumfries and Galloway
51
297


Dundee City 
60
147


East Ayrshire 
21
89


East Dunbartonshire 
27
90


East Lothian 
24
73


East Renfrewshire
38
65


Edinburgh City of 
88
273


Eilean Siar 
48
63


Falkirk 
44
95


Fife 
181
270


Glasgow City 
114
341


Highland 
116
271


Inverclyde 
16
86


Midlothian 
18
52


Moray 
48
100


North Ayrshire 
57
157


North Lanarkshire
68
231


Orkney Islands 
20
37


Perth and Kinross
91
143


Renfrewshire 
21
127


Scottish Borders
54
109


Shetland Islands
6
12


South Ayrshire 
34
144


South Lanarkshire
73
261


Stirling 
33
75


West Dunbartonshire
18
57


West Lothian 
27
67


No value **
172
-


All Scotland 
1,824
4,280



  Notes:*Of which 25% initial contact yet to be made at end December, 75% surveys were allocated and awaiting the survey outcome. 90% of surveys in December were undertaken within 10 working days.**The address verification process requires a valid post code in order to assign the address to a local authority. Occasionally with new builds the post code is not available with the Ordnance Survey data used by the database and therefore cannot be assigned to a local authority via the verification process. The post code data in the database is updated regularly and as it is updated the properties are assigned to the relevant local authority area.

  3. Survey Outcomes

  

Local authority
(f) Accepted for Stage 4
(g) Not Eligible
(h) Cancelled Following Survey*


Year to End December


Aberdeen City 
77
21
3


Aberdeenshire 
147
38
9


Angus 
91
16
7


Argyll and Bute 
111
11
8


Clackmannanshire 
29
7
1


Dumfries and Galloway
264
33
38


Dundee City 
129
18
7


East Ayrshire 
69
20
8


East Dunbartonshire 
71
19
10


East Lothian 
59
14
9


East Renfrewshire
54
11
3


Edinburgh City of 
216
57
15


Eilean Siar 
53
10
-


Falkirk 
78
17
4


Fife 
212
58
21


Glasgow City 
275
66
16


Highland 
230
41
15


Inverclyde 
74
12
3


Midlothian 
44
8
3


Moray 
86
14
8


North Ayrshire 
126
31
10


North Lanarkshire
200
31
5


Orkney Islands 
34
3
3


Perth and Kinross
127
16
11


Renfrewshire 
103
24
3


Scottish Borders
94
15
10


Shetland Islands
10
2
-


South Ayrshire 
113
31
15


South Lanarkshire
221
40
23


Stirling 
59
16
6


West Dunbartonshire
49
8
1


West Lothian 
47
20
4


All Scotland 
3,552
728
279*



  Note: *Column (h) is a subset of column (f).

Civil Service Staff

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new civil service posts have been created since May 2007, broken down by (a) job title and (b) pay grade.

John Swinney: Within the Scottish Government, posts are created and removed regularly to reflect changing business needs. It is therefore not possible to provide detailed information about the titles and grades of posts which have been created since May 2007.

  It is possible to identify the net change in overall number of posts. The annual publication, Civil Service Statistics, published by the Office for National Statistics, provides information on the number of employees on a head count and full-time equivalent basis, by responsibility level, for government departments or for Scotland. Published figures from 2007 onwards are available at the following link. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899.Work is ongoing to simplify the public sector landscape. The number of public bodies has already been reduced from 199 to 162 and we are on target to achieve the government’s target to reduce the number of public bodies by 25% by April 2011.

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers were issued advice on primary one to three class sizes circulated between 9 May and 2 July 2007.

Michael Russell: Ministers receive advice on a wide range of issues every day. That was the case during this period and remains the case.

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on which dates between 9 May and 2 July 2007 written advice was issued to ministers on primary one to three class sizes.

Michael Russell: Ministers receive written advice on a wide range of issues on a regular basis. That was the case during this period and remains the case.

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on which dates between 9 May and 2 July 2007 meetings were held with ministers at which advice on primary one to three class sizes was given.

Michael Russell: Ministers meet officials and other stakeholders on a regular basis and receive advice on a wide range of issues. That was the case during this period and remains the case.

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, between 9 May and 2 July 2007, advice on class sizes in primary one to primary three was given to special advisers but not ministers.

Michael Russell: There is no record of any such advice being given to special advisers but not ministers.

Communities

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it considers that the introduction of a national register of public service interpreters similar to that in operation in England and Wales would bring.

Alex Neil: The Translating, Interpreting and Communication Support Group, set up by the Scottish Government to improve the standard of translation and interpreting services, identified monitoring quality and standards of the interpretation service as a key priority. One way of facilitating this could be through the use of the existing UK wide national register or a register specific to Scotland.

Communities

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support the introduction of a national register of public service interpreters similar to that in operation in England and Wales.

Alex Neil: The national register of public service interpreters operational in England and Wales also operates in Scotland. However, it is our understanding that it is not widely used. The Scottish Government would be supportive of steps to improve monitoring of quality and data, through the use of a register if service providers felt that was the most effective way of doing so.

Community Councils

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to (a) proposed and (b) existing community councils.

John Swinney: The level of support provided to community councils, including any financial support, is at the discretion of each individual local authority.

  However, in partnership with COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), we are continuing to raise the profile and effectiveness of community councils throughout Scotland to enable them to build their capacity and to allow them to engage as key participants in local decision making and delivery.This includes promoting the adoption of the Model Scheme of Establishment of Community Councils and Code of Conduct for Community Councillors, documents developed by a Scottish Government Community Council Working Group (CCWG). Adoption of these documents is key to the building of capacity as they will help establish a greater consistency of operational arrangements and a culture of accountability.The Scottish Government is also funding a series of Community Council Pilot Projects. The pilots will focus on budget management, community council elections and potential asset management.

Community Councils

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what value it sees in community councils advancing local democracy.

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it sees community councils having in local decision making.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government values the important role that community councils can play in ensuring that the views of the community it represents are reflected in local decision making.

  The general statutory purpose of community councils is to "ascertain, co-ordinate and express to local authorities for its area, and to public authorities, the views of the community which it represents, in relation to matters for which those authorities are responsible, and to take such action in the interests of that community as appears to it to be expedient and practicable". In that respect they can bring an important local dimension to the development and delivery of services by local public bodies.A Scottish Government Community Council Working Group (CCWG) was invited to identify expanded roles and responsibilities for community councils. They found that many, in discussion and agreement with their local authority, already undertook a variety of roles and responsibilities, for example – arranging minor repairs of certain local authority amenities, control of common good funds and Community Hall management/maintenance. However, in order for this to be more widespread, it was recognised that the capacity of community councils would require strengthening.In partnership with COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), therefore, we are continuing to raise the profile and effectiveness of community councils throughout Scotland to enable them to build their capacity and to allow them to engage as key participants in local decision making and delivery.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) adults and (b) people under the age of 18 who have insulin dependent diabetes have been on insulin pump therapy in each of the last three years, also expressed as a percentage of people with insulin dependent diabetes, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. The answer to question S3W-20807 on 6 March 2009 set out the number of people with type 1 diabetes using an insulin pump broken down by NHS board and age group. The answer to question S3W-25079 on 15 July 2009 gave the percentage of people with type 1 diabetes receiving insulin pump therapy, broken down by NHS board.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. The 2009 Diabetes Survey, due to be published in March this year, will contain an update on insulin pump provision in Scotland.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve the uptake of insulin pumps for people up to the age of 18 with insulin dependent diabetes.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Diabetes Group’s revised Diabetes Action Plan, due to be published in the near future, is expected to include a number of measures designed to guide NHS boards’ investment in insulin pump therapy and the associated structured education.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the progress being made by NHS boards on increasing insulin pump usage among people up to the age of 18 with insulin dependent diabetes and, if not, what action it will take.

Shona Robison: NHS boards are making steady progress, albeit from a low starting point, in relation to the provision of insulin pumps and the structured education associated with them. We have asked NHS boards to provide details of their planned investment for the next three to five years in this area of provision, and are awaiting responses from several of them.

  We expect the revised Diabetes Action Plan to include a number of measures designed to guide NHS boards in planning this investment. The issue will also be dealt with in the resource impact assessment which the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network intends to publish to accompany its revised clinical guideline on the management of diabetes.From March 2010, the annual Diabetes Survey will contain an update on insulin pump provision across NHSScotland to allow boards’ progress to be monitored.

Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what access teachers have to continuous professional development courses that include co-operative education.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government, through its Determined to Succeed (DtS) strategy, has provided £60,000 funding for Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS) during its two-year pilot stage (July 2005-07) to support the work and future development of educational resources under its "Co-operate to Succeed" banner.

  Teachers can access Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities that included the co-operative education by attending courses offered by the Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS). Other CPD opportunities can be found using CPD find on the Learning and Teaching Scotland website. http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/cpdscotland/cpdfind/searchcpd/index.asp.

Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the co-operative model is included in business education in (a) schools, (b) further education and (c) higher education.

Michael Russell: The steps the Scottish Government are taking to ensure that the co-operative model is included in business education

  (a) schools

  The co-operative model is consistent with the experiences and outcomes for learners and resources have been provided to support teachers.

  These include Enterprise with Ethics: Social Enterprise in the Curriculum which was prepared by the Co-operative Education Trust Scotland and is available on the Learning and Teaching Scotland website.

  http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/resources/e/genericresource_tcm4561191.asp?strReferringChannel=eie.

  Links are also provided to other organisations and resources such as the Young Co-operatives, an organisation helping secondary school students and other young people to establish and run their own cooperative businesses selling fairly traded products. http://www.youngco-operatives.coop/.

  (b) further education, (c) higher education

  Scottish Government supports the general concept of co-operative models in colleges where they align with key policies such as Curriculum for Excellence. However, because colleges and universities are autonomous bodies with responsibility for the courses they offer, it would not be appropriate for Scottish Ministers to stipulate the specific nature of business education courses.

Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources are available to teachers who wish to include the co-operative business model as an option in enterprise education.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government, through its Determined to Succeed (DtS) strategy, has provided £60,000 funding for Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS) during its two-year pilot stage (July 2005-07) to support the work and future development of educational resources under its "Co-operate to Succeed" banner.

  Teachers can access available resources through the Learning and Teaching Scotland website.

  http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/resources/e/genericresource_tcm4561191.asp?strReferringChannel=eie.

Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers have been trained in co-operative education.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government, through its Determined to Succeed (DtS) strategy, has provided £60,000 funding for Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS) during its two-year pilot stage (July 2005-07) to support the work and future development of educational resources under its "Co-operate to Succeed" banner.

  Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS) have trained 184 teachers, covering 29 local authorities attended 13 CPD sessions covering a variety of resources.

Finance

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29873 by John Swinney on 8 January 2010, what reductions in the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) arise under the Barnett Formula as a result of the recent decision by the UK Government to reduce the Higher Education Funding Council for England Grant Settlement for 2010-11 by £518 million and whether these reductions have been taken into account in the expected DEL totals for 2010-11 published by the Scottish Government in the budget documents as altered by the £23.1 million consequentials in the pre-Budget report.

John Swinney: There are no further reductions expected to arise in the Departmental Expenditure Limit for Scotland from the decision to reduce the Higher Education Funding Council for England Grant Settlement for 2010-11. No changes have therefore been made to the Scottish Government budget documents.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to appoint a new chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service and when it expects the new appointee to be in post.

John Swinney: Arrangements for the appointment of a new Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service are currently underway. In September last year, the post was trawled internally within the Scottish Prison Service and across other government departments which covered staff working within the UK Prison Services. Whilst the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has acknowledged the strong field of candidates who applied it was decided to open up the competition to external candidates to ensure that candidates outwith the civil service also have the opportunity to apply for this important and strategic role within the justice sector. The post was advertised on 15 January 2010 in the Press and on-line. The closing date for applications is 5 February 2010. The new process is being chaired by a Civil Service Commissioner.

  Willie Pretswell, Director of Finance and Business Services at the Scottish Prison Service, will act as Interim Chief Executive for the period until the recruitment process is complete and a new Chief Executive is appointed.

Respite Care

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many respite weeks recorded by local authorities in 2008-09 were the result of new services or initiatives.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published on 15 December 2009 in an Official Statistics Publication provisional figures for respite weeks in 2008-09 by each local authority in Scotland. All figures are being further validated before publication of final figures, scheduled for February 2010. The publication containing the final data for 2008-09 will include an explanation of the figures. Subject to that explanation, the figures will be able to be compared to those for 2007-08 to identify changes in provision.

Roads

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it will give to local authorities to repair and resurface potholes following recent adverse weather conditions.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-9221 on 21 January 2010. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-10/sor0121-02.htm#Col22993.

Scottish Government Expenditure

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were incurred by and reimbursements made to Elaine C Smith as a consequence of her radio recordings for Weather Wise.

John Swinney: I regret that, under the Data Protection Act 1998, Section 7 (4) and (6), I am unable to release the information requested by the member.

  Ms Smith has confirmed that she will be using her fee to fund her support for a range of charities.

Scottish Government Travel

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what occasions a ministerial vehicle has been used to transport someone other than a minister or Scottish Government employee unaccompanied by a minister or Scottish Government employee since May 2007 and what the purpose was of each journey.

John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50090).

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Publications

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the cost was of producing A Report to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on the Scheme for Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses , including the time of Parliament staff.

Tom McCabe: Sir Neil McIntosh undertook the examination of the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme on a non-payment basis. The SPCB did agree to meet any travel and associated expenses incurred by Sir Neil and these amounted to £703.93.

  The public attitude research was procured competitively and cost £10,925 inclusive of VAT. The cost of producing and printing the report was £587.30.

  All internal staff time was met from within existing staff costs.